Paralegal/Law, AAS
This program can be completed 100% online.
Note: This degree/certificate leads to professional licensure. Licensing requirements vary by state/territory and relocating could impact whether you will meet eligibility requirements for licensure. Please visit our Professional Licensure Programs page for full details on State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement.
Program Description
Associate of Applied Science, Paralegal/ Law: Paralegals assist attorneys in a variety of settings such as private legal practices, the public legal system, and corporate legal departments. TMCC’s Paralegal/Law program is the only American Bar Association (ABA) approved program in Nevada.
Recommended Course Schedule
| Summer | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| This sequence contains a summer session. You cannot begin this program in the summer. It is recommended that you take the summer session following your first or second semester in the program. | ||
| Electives: LAW 233, LAW 251, LAW 255 | ||
| Semester Total | 0 | |
| Total Units | 0 | |
| 1st semester | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| Communications/English 4 | 3 | |
| Human Relations 4 | 3 | |
| IS 101 | Introduction to Information Systems | 3 |
| LAW 101 | Fundamentals of Law I (This is a prerequisite for all other LAW courses.) | 3 |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Semester Total | 15 | |
| 2nd semester | ||
| Communications/English 4 | 3 | |
| LAW 261 | Legal Research I | 3 |
| LAW 263 | Ethics | 3 |
| Science | 3 | |
| Semester Total | 12 | |
| 3rd semester | ||
| Elective 4 | 3 | |
| LAW 203 | Real Property | 3 |
| LAW 205 | Contracts | 3 |
| LAW 259 | Legal Writing | 3 |
| U.S. and Nevada Constitutions 3 | 3 | |
| Semester Total | 15 | |
| 4th semester | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Fine Art/Humanities/Social Science/Diversity | 3 | |
| LAW 204 | Torts | 3 |
| LAW 231 | Procedure - Civil | 3 |
| LAW 264 | Civil Evidence | 3 |
| Semester Total | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Electives: See notes above. This is a summer Semester. | 6 | |
| Semester Total | 6 | |
| Total Units | 63 | |
- 3
- 4
See program recommendations or requirements.
Special Program Requirements
The LAW 101 (Fundamentals of Law I) course is open to all students. Upon completion of LAW 101 with a grade of ‘B’ or better a student may register for additional LAW courses through normal registration procedures as long as the proper prerequisites have been met. A student must maintain a 3.0 GPA average through all legal specialty coursework to graduate with an AAS degree in paralegal. The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals requires that students complete a minimum of 12 credits of LAW (or legal specialty courses) in a live format either in person or in a synchronous online course. Transfer units intended to satisfy legal specialty units will be reviewed by the program coordinator for course content to ensure that the course(s) satisfy ABA requirements. No more than 12 semester units will be allowed via transfer for legal specialty courses. No legal specialty transfer units are allowed via examination or portfolio. Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
Program Requirements
AAS degrees are generally non-transfer degrees that are designed for students to enter the workforce.
To earn an AAS degree, students must:
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 (see requirements for graduation.)
- Complete a minimum of 15 units within the college.
- Satisfy General Education requirements for the AAS.
- Have no financial or library obligation to the college.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Diversity 1 | [3] | |
Select a course that also satisfies Humanities/Social Science. | ||
| Communications | 3 | |
Recommended: | ||
| Composition I | ||
or ENG 100 | Composition Enhanced | |
or ENG 113 | Composition I for International and Multilingual Students | |
| English | 3 | |
Recommended: | ||
| Business Letters and Reports | ||
| Humanities/Social Science | 3 | |
Select only a Humanities or Social Science course from the approved AAS General Education list. | ||
| Human Relations | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Supervision and Human Relations | ||
| Principles of Management | ||
| Leadership and Human Relations | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Mathematics | 3 | |
Select from MATH courses 120 or above. | ||
| Science | 3 | |
| U.S. and Nevada Constitutions | 3 | |
| Degree Requirements | ||
| IS 101 | Introduction to Information Systems | 3 |
| LAW 101 | Fundamentals of Law I (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 203 | Real Property (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 204 | Torts (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 205 | Contracts (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 231 | Procedure - Civil (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 259 | Legal Writing (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 261 | Legal Research I (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 263 | Ethics (LS) 2 | 3 |
| LAW 264 | Civil Evidence (LS) 2 | 3 |
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Select 12 units from the following: | 12 | |
| Special Topics Legal Assistant | ||
| Procedure - Criminal (LS) 2 | ||
| Business Structures (LS) 2 | ||
| Bankruptcy (LS) 2 | ||
| Family Law (LS) 2 | ||
| Probate Procedures (LS) 2 | ||
| Supervised Field Experience (LS) 2 | ||
| Total Units | 63 | |
- 1
May also count toward degree requirements. Please consult with Academic Advisement.
- 2
"LS" denotes legal specialty courses. A student must maintain a 3.0 GPA average through all legal specialty coursework to graduate with an AAS degree in Paralegal.
Program Outcomes
Students completing the degree will:
PSLO1: Exhibit knowledge of the following areas of the law: torts, civil procedure, ethics, and real property.
PSLO2: Demonstrate the ability to do basic legal research and basic legal writing.
PSLO3: Acquire the knowledge and skills to obtain entry-level employment as a paralegal.
